Iya leaped off the rail of the balcony then looked up at the three -story jump. The cold wet sand on the beach formed a perfect circle around her as she stood to her feet from one knee. Iya looked down at her hands amazed at how powerful and strong she felt. In that moment, she realized even Cashius didn’t access the full power and potential of the Star Lord. He did kick Iya and Kal’s asses all over her balcony but his spirit wasn’t pure and his intentions were selfish as well as evil. If Cashius did really tap into his full range of power, they would have been long dead and defeated.

Her eyes were bright yellow and flares of light occasionally lifted from her body. She still didn’t quite understand why the Stars gave her the power instead of the other Star Children. Iya only understood the Stars wanted to help correct the damage Cashius had made. She understood this was her only opportunity once and for all to get rid of the universe’s worse enemy. The power Iya held was temporary but it was a force to reckon with, if used properly. The Stars trusted Iya was such power because they knew she would keep it safe at any costs.

A few explosions went off near by which made Iya look in that direction. She could hear the screams of her people and the cries of her army. They were yelling retreat! The only place left to retreat was the Military Quarters. The Sagens were losing just like the Stars mentioned. The Red Beards landed their giant war carriers in the ocean just off the coast. They weren’t discreet or secretive about it like their cousin clans. They didn’t care where they landed their ships as long as they set foot on Sage and got their revenge. Cashius convinced the Red Beards it was Gerok who had their leader killed. If he hadn’t came to Lotus and convinced Cain to join his cause, the Sagens would have never killed him. They were willing to do anything to take their revenge by force.

The carriers created large waves that swayed back and forth up the beach causing some areas to flood. At least two thousand more Barbarians filled the coast hoping to guarantee their victory with their kin clans. They marched in tight rows side by side in large companies of two hundred. The Sagens had no choice but to retreat as they were pushed back more into the city. The fight continued throughout the Business Districts which led to the Military Quarters. The quarters that belonged to the Fourth borns, would be their last line of defense.

Beyond those walls were the rows of communities and the houses, schools and small farm lands, the rest of the kingdom. Fortunately, the army had a good chance of holding down the defenses in their quarters. It housed the remaining weapons, armors, shields and missiles. It was designed for fighting, for battles. The quarters were made sturdy and is reinforced with iron and Sagen steel. There was also one entrance in and one out…

Amos ordered his remaining men to barricade themselves within their quarters and ready the missiles to be fired. The plan was to kill any Barbarians that came busting through the gates. If their defense doesn’t hold, the Sagen Kingdom will be lost… Amos stood in front of the three missiles starring down at them. He knew if they had to use them, it would mean the end for everyone. Using the missiles in close proximity would completely take out whole quarters at once. It would literality be the last thing Amos and the Sagen army could do to save their home.

Iya hurried, running as fast as she could. She felt light like feather as she glided through the sands of the beach. When the commander turned the corner to the palace, all she saw was death…There were dead bodies of the fallen everywhere, Barbarian and Sagen alike. The smoke still blotted out majority of the sun and some buildings slowly burned to the ground. The food stands of the marketplace were all destroyed and blood painted the brick floor dark red. There were bodies on every corner, spreading all across in and throughout the palace.

Iya gripped her sword tight and ran towards her enemy. As the Red Beards marched other Barbarians nearby joined in. The remaining Moonbacks and the Blue Claws accompanied the Red Beard increasing their numbers by hundreds more. Iya needed to get to what was left of her army before the Barbarians did. She knew all the short cuts to the Military Quarters like the back of her hand, it was her business to know them. With the numbers they have accumulated, Iya knew she couldn’t defeat all of them on her own. Even with her new found power, there were too many. She reached the quarters before the enemy and leaped up jumping two stories over the wall. When Iya dropped down then stood to her feet, her soldiers were not expecting to see her. Most had believed Cashius had killed Iya first to get the strongest fighter out of the way. All kinds of stories started circulating about Iya and Kal’s whereabouts and all made their army lose morale and hope for winning. It was only about survival at this point…

The Sagen Commander stood to her feet and wiped away the dirt that stuck on her knee. When she looked up, she could see the reactions of her just reappearing. Iya walked towards the center of the small courtyard in the entrance of the Military Quarters then looked up. The remaining soldiers of her army all were getting into formation along the long wooden balcony that extended across the second level. She didn’t have time to catch them all up on what happened. From the whispers she could hear they were happy to see their commander was alive. A sense of relief waved through the army for their best fighter and leader had returned.

Amos and Surra came running to the balcony and looked down at their commander. Immediately they felt they could finally exhale. “Commander?” Amos looked at Iya from head to toe, he knew something was different. Her stands and demeanor was different, the look in her was confidence and not fear. She was ready to finish this war… Surra ran downstairs and embraced her friend. She didn’t know what the outcome was after her fight with Cashius.

Iya pulled Surra from the hug and whispered to her, “I have another mission for you…”

“Anything! I’m so happy you made it out alive… where’s Kal?” Surra replied.

“With Artemis, Cashius hurt him pretty bad. My parents, I need you to free my parents. They are in the dungeon below the palace. Kill anyone who stands in your way, Barbarian or Sagen alike.” Iya nodded to Surra looking for confirmation.

Surra returned the nod and turned around to the nearest soldiers to her. “You two, follow me!” They dashed through the training stadium entrance and left out of side entrance that was rarely used.

The attention went back onto Iya as she looked up and her eyes began to glow again and small flares of yellow light gathered around her. It made her army gasped in disbelief they also could tell something was different about the commander. She yelled out to Amos and the others, “It’s still me! We don’t have much time before the Barbarian reinforcements are upon us. Finish gathering your gear and weapons because this is it, brothers and sisters.” Iya began pacing in place while watching her army complete their tasks scrambling around. “I know most of you are wondering what exactly is going on. In time you all will get your answers. Just know that if we don’t finish these assholes off, Sage will fall to their hands. This cannot and will not happen while I still breath in air. I know we are few and we’ve lost so many in the past day or so but we must remain strong. I have been blessed by the Stars to finish this feud once and for all.” Iya held her hands up to the gray sky and allowed the yellow flares to surround her completely. Some of her brethren hit the floor on their knees when they witnessed her powers. Once the enemy reached the gates, they began pounding and banging on the gate trying to tare it down. The chains keeping the gate together bounced around up and down. Iya stayed down below front and center. “Get in formation! Archers spread along the top as the rest get ready for our last stand. Do not despair for this is not our ending! We will not fail our people and our home!”

Her army cheered while gaining some hope back. Amos yelled out the loudest while cheering, “All hail our commander!” The army cheered and who rah three times giving her respect and acknowledgement she deserved. Iya dropped her head, saluting them back as she slowly turned around to face the enemy as they began to bust through.

“Open the gates...” Iya said softly to the few the were down below with her. They looked confused and shocked but did what they were told. Iya’s plan was to tunnel them in, tearing them apart piece by piece instead of facing them all at once. It made more sense to fight smart instead of going full force. The Guardian of the Stars cannot die, cannot be defeated. She turned back and yelled one more command, “Ready the cannons! Do not fire until I tell you so! None will leave this planet alive!” Amos got the command and ran towards the cannons. Two others began helping him load the cannons with the large missiles. The rest did not understand but Iya knew exactly what she was going to need them for…

The commander twirled her sword around in circles as she waited for the fortified gates to open. Even the Barbarians were shocked to see the gate opening on their own. Iya stood in the center of the courtyard entrance waiting. Her eyes began to glow again as she began her attack on the few who came running through. Quickly, the army witnessed for the first time the true power of the Star Lord. She was slicing through their enemy like it was nothing. Body parts were flying in the air as she chopped through them. Her speed and agility were unlike anything anyone had ever seen. Some stopped in their tracks and watched as their commander sliced through five or so Barbarians with one swing. Iya took out all the Barbarian soldiers as they entered. The gates tunneled them in perfectly, they didn’t realize they were falling into a trap. Only a handful at a time could come through. The Sagens were able to pick them off in handfuls. Bodies of their enemy piled up near the entrance causing them to tumble over their dead.

The last leader of the Barbarians, Simon saw through the Sagens plan and yelled at his armies to spread out once inside. Simon slowly walked in himself and quickly looked around for weak spots. Archers up top were raining arrows on anyone who passed Iya and others below. Simon again yelled at his men to slow down and spread around but his command didn’t last too long. Iya quickly went through the crowd and located the screaming leader. She was looking for him anyway… Barbarians were simple minded creatures who believed in following the strongest. Once Iya reached Simon who had his back towards the entrance, she quieted his screaming early in the fight.

He didn’t see it coming, her enemies never do, his fight with Iya was short and to the point. She was done wasting anymore time. She made fast and swift moves around him which made it difficult to follow her. Simon become flustered and confused as he missed every attack he tried. He growled angrily and screamed, “That’s impossible! No Sagen has the power of the Star Lord, unless…” A chill went through the Barbarian leader as he tried to pinpoint when Iya was going to stop. “You are the Star Lord and…”

“Cashius is dead…” Iya drove her sword through the middle of Simon’s chest. His widened by the unexpected blow. He looked down as Iya slowly pulled the blade from in between his breast plates. “The Stars granted me with his power to finally rid the universe of all Barbarians. Today marks a new era, an era without your kind!” As soon as Iya pulled the blade from Simon’s chest, she quickly spun around taking his head in one swift move. The Barbarian leader’s body dropped where he stood, collapsing instantly.

His quick defeat sent a shock wave throughout the ranks of his men. When the Barbarians realized their leader had been taking down, they didn’t know who to turn to. They also began to realize Iya the Great was back… Cashius failed at bringing down the leaders of Sage. Her eyes remained glowing bright yellow as she wiped the blood splatter from her face. Although the Barbarians outnumbered the Sagens greatly, they quickly and easily became spooked. Half of them tried to turn around and escape back to their war carrier as the other half tried to still force their way through the gates.

Once the back companies saw the front companies trying to retreat, most started to do the same. The Sagens picked off the Barbarians that tried to escape. The courtyard of the Military Quarters quickly emptied when the Barbarian leader fell. They were tripping and stumbling over one another trying to get away back to the carriers. Iya turned around and looked up at Amos who was already walking towards the cannon. She screamed, “Amos!”

“I’m already on it, Commander!” Amos pointed the cannon upwards as far as the barrel would go. He shot off two missiles directly at the Barbarians war carrier as they many had already boarded the ship. The missiles were large enough to take down a ship that big. They hit directly in the center exploding the rest of the carrier. The first one caught fire immediately and began to fall from explosions happening within. Amos turned the barrel and aimed for the second war carrier which was not as full as the first. Barbarians were still running towards the carrier half were in the water trying not be swept away. Amos and soldiers next to him cheered as they saw the first carrier go down, “Whoa! Yes baby! If only we had access to this in the beginning of the war. This whole thing would have been over by now.” The surrounding soldier nodded in agreement.

The Sagen cheered and celebrated as they defeated the life long enemies once and for all. They threw their helmets in the air as they watched the remaining Barbarians try to swim back to the beach. Their war carriers burned and broke into pieces falling in the ocean below. Iya watched the ending unfold as she felt she could finally breath again. When she saw Surra had returned, the feeling of happiness overwhelmed her for finally it was all over. She returned much quicker than expected... Surra ran up to her commander delivering the good news, “I freed your parents. The Sagens loyal to Cashius were trying to board them on a ship. They were trying to kidnap them when they found out Cashius had failed. We caught them just on time, they’re safe now…” Iya walked up to Surra and embraced her hard. She was truly grateful to have such an amazing kinship with her army.

Surra pulled Iya back from the hug this time so she can make eye contact. Iya was smiling and excited they had just won the battle of the lifetime. Surra’s facial expression quickly changed Iya’s when she saw Surra didn’t look happy as she did. “What is it Surra? What’s wrong?”

She exhaled deeply before replying, “I ran into Jayce on the way back. And…”

“And?” Iya was inpatient to know. What else could go wrong? She thought.

“It’s your brother. Jaron didn’t make it…”

“What?! How?” Iya’s jaw dropped and her happiness quickly faded away as fast as it came.

“His wounds were too severe. The nurses couldn't stop the bleeding. Artemis said he died saving innocents Sagens from being killed. He died a hero… That’s not it.” Surra once more looked her best friend and commander in the eyes. She hated being the barrier of bad news in the middle of a celebration. “It’s Kal… he’s not looking too good. Jayce said you better get down to the Medics. Iya, they’re not sure…”

“No!” Iya didn’t want to hear the last statement. This could not be happening! She thought. Iya ran as fast as her legs would go as she dashed through the debris. Once she reached the Medic Quarters, the surviving group all huddled around Jaron crying from his passing. Her parents had just reached the quarters as well when they heard the news. Her mother wept hard and deep as she collapsed into her husband’s arm in pain. The King grasped his queen hard and strong as they shared the same pain.

The head nurse Amber looked at Iya and said, “I did everything I could do from him, commander. I hope you all understand that.” Iya nodded and didn’t say a word as she starred down at her brother. She looked up at the nurse and right away Amber knew where she was getting at. “Your captain… follow me.” Iya walked slowly behind the nurse, leading her into another room. “Captain Kalvanius is mostly patched up but we can’t maintain his blood pressure and he’s slipped into a coma. I honestly don’t know the outcome of his condition if he doesn’t wake up. I’m sorry Commander…”

Iya slowly walked over to her captain, the love of her life and sat down next to him in a chair. This is not our ending, she thought. This can’t be our ending…